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1

Photography & Graphics / What To Do...

« Last post by JLMatterer on Today at 03:58:31 »

...for Christmas? I don't feel very festive this year; I may choose to not celebrate in any sort of secular way but just observe it silently. I am always alone at Christmas, regardless.

However... I have 5 unopened Advent calendars. 70188 Christmas Toy Store; 71088 Christmas Baking; 71345 Horses of Waterfall Christmas Sleigh Ride; 71348 Christmas Under the Rainbow; 71346 Novelmore Battle In the Snow. I'll consider opening & sharing one through photos so as not to be a complete Scrooge this year.

Any opinions on what you might like to see?

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Photography & Graphics / Re: JLMatterer Photo Gallery

« Last post by JLMatterer on Today at 00:00:16 »

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Brainstorming For Playmobil / Re: Sinterklaas themed figures serie

« Last post by Eplay on November 29, 2023, 20:59:48 »

And here is number 5: The Captain of the steamboat of Sinterklaas.
He’s got gold and turquoise stripes on the side of his pants.

For the accessories I chose a toy sailboat. If you take the lower part of the sailboat and make a different top you can create a steamboat toy. (A steamboat toy would probably do well in a Victorian nursery)

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News / Re: Geobra redundancies and outsourcing, restructuring Playmobil (Autumn 2023)

« Last post by Janilew on November 29, 2023, 20:30:33 »

Thanks to JLMatterer and Playmobil in the News, this comes from Leadersnet Deutschland (translation by Google);

"Playmobil is in crisis
NEWS, TRADE, INDUSTRY
| editorial staff | November 27, 2023
The toy manufacturer has been in trouble since a former secretary of the late owner took over the management role.

Playmobil has been in a deep crisis since Marianne Albert, former secretary of the late owner Horst Brandstätter, took over the reins. Sales and profits collapse, 17 percent of the workforce has to leave. Before its 50th anniversary, the once successful company is in the shadow of the question of how this crash came about.

Brandstätter, who expanded the company into a global corporation thanks to the success of the Playmobil figures, left a complex will that reorganized the balance of power. Marianne Albert, once his secretary, became a loyal helper and gained more and more influence after his death.

Marianne Albert has led the company for the last eight years, characterized by opaque decisions and a questionable management style, as manager magazin reports. The once highly profitable company's profits plummeted and sales fell, while its main competitor Lego grew. A lack of modernization, a lack of management methods and an unsuccessful search for strategic solutions by external consultants contributed to the misery. Even big plans, like producing Netflix series, were never implemented.

Realignment with massive cuts

The current leadership announced massive cuts, including the loss of 700 jobs by 2025. Former CEO Steffen Höpfner resigned, criticizing the slow transformation and emphasizing the need for change. Marianne Albert, on the other hand, is relying on her CFO René Feser to realign the group.

A shadow hangs over the question of how the former formula for success, which was based on the wishes of the children, was lost. The introduction of modern management methods and the recruitment of a top manager from Disney were intended to turn things around, but so far these efforts have been unsuccessful. The move away from tried-and-tested products towards new, less successful items resulted in a massive loss of capital.

Inhumane and condescending form of leadership

The situation is exacerbated by the tension between Marianne Albert and the employees. The allegations of “inhumane behavior” and a “condescending” attitude on the part of management cast a shadow on the corporate culture. A former advisory board member complains about the lack of modern management approaches and a lack of trust in external experts.

The question remains whether the upcoming anniversary celebration with a Playmobil stamp can bring the brand back into the spotlight. At a time when the best minds are leaving the company, the challenges are not only economic, but also in terms of restoring trust and innovative strength. The outcome remains uncertain and the future of Playmobil is facing a decisive turning point."

Welp, it was fun while it lasted. We had a good run guys....

I know it's incredibly pessimistic, but I think it's hard to deny that this beloved brand is going down the crapper-- and it has been for some time. I think the only way for the spirit to live on are through sets circulating through collectors and 3D printing/molding from talented fans. Still, sad to see it go. Nothing lasts forever though.

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Brainstorming For Playmobil / Re: Sinterklaas themed figures serie

« Last post by Eplay on November 29, 2023, 20:27:23 »

Would be AWESOME if someone could share that insight with playmobil.. They make these new themed "my figures" (or whatever they are called) sets (something we collectors figured was a great idea when the figures first appeared, btw) - but the skincolors make it impossible to switch parts, so.. what was the point again?
<sigh>

Trying… trying… I’m hoping they are reading this post 

I’m having inspiration right now: nr 9 & 10: the Music Pieten. At the “Intocht”/ arrival of Sinterklaas there always is a marching band/local orchestra playing (at least where I live). So it would be wonderful to have a male and female music Piet. I chose to make the male dark tan. But with a lot of figures, it would be possible to switch heads/arms and hair pieces. Then these 2 would make a whole band.
(Without the hat and gold puffs they would make a good normal marching band. There is no playmobil version of a drum with shoulder straps but I would guess that these would be popular in the US. For the US one or both figures should have a dark skintone, but I choose not to do a dark skinned Piet because it would be too controversial for playmobil (and 2 skintones is easier to mix and match)

I hope you like these 2.

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Brainstorming For Playmobil / Re: Sinterklaas themed figures serie

« Last post by tahra on November 29, 2023, 19:47:58 »

Another great one

For a figures serie I think its good to repeat colours so more combinations / new figures can be made.

Would be AWESOME if someone could share that insight with playmobil.. They make these new themed "my figures" (or whatever they are called) sets (something we collectors figured was a great idea when the figures first appeared, btw) - but the skincolors make it impossible to switch parts, so.. what was the point again?

<sigh>

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Photography & Graphics / Re: JLMatterer Photo Gallery

« Last post by JLMatterer on November 29, 2023, 18:31:03 »

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News / Re: Geobra redundancies and outsourcing, restructuring Playmobil (Autumn 2023)

« Last post by Eplay on November 29, 2023, 18:15:11 »

Interesting how fast things can go wrong with a company

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News / Re: Affects of re-releases on collectors

« Last post by Rasputin on November 29, 2023, 17:10:39 »

I too would like slight variations in color to add some variety in diorama  but then if left to gnomes at Geobra…..we’ll they’ll probably make playmobil fantasy purple stecks and pink western houses

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Brainstorming For Playmobil / Re: Sinterklaas themed figures serie

« Last post by Eplay on November 29, 2023, 16:44:28 »

You make wonderful drawings

I agree! Those are excellent drawings and ideas!

Thank you!!

I’ve made another one. I liked the color combination of this Piet (orange, turquoise and gold), so I made him a gift wrapping Piet. (Nr 8)
The orange is also in the horse Piet. For a figures serie I think its good to repeat colours so more combinations / new figures can be made.
I gave him Asian eyes (more cultural variation).